Prince of Peace Town Meeting February 10, 2008 Slide Presentation

Ablaze! Initiative Updates April 23, 2008

Ablaze is an invitation to participate in LCMS efforts to reach 100 million people with the Gospel and to plant 5,000 new churches – the most exciting and dynamic program in our church body in many years.  The Ablaze goal for each of us at Prince of Peace is to have at least seven “critical events” each year.  A critical event is “When one Lutheran Christian gives witness about Jesus of the hope that is within him or her to another person so that person may encounter Christ."  The other goal for each of us is to support the planting of the 5,000 new churches. 

Our goal at Prince of Peace is to raise $185,000 during the next year (April 2007-March 2008) for the LCMS Ablaze worldwide efforts.

 Answers to frequently asked questions:

 1.   Are there some helps for me that will give me basic outline points for speaking to my friend about Jesus?

            The first step, the only indispensable one, is to pray for the person – that God would draw them to Himself.  Prayer is the real work of a Christian who cares for someone’s relationship to Christ.  God will bring that person to you when the time is right for you to be part of His plan to bring that person to Himself.  You can prepare for that time by being on the look out for the opportunity and by knowing some of the key points of God’s plan of salvation:

bulletGod loves us and wants us to be eternally with Him (John 3:16)
bulletBut sin separates you from God (Romans 3:32. Romans 1:21)
bulletGod gives us the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23 & 5:8)
bulletThe gift comes through faith, which is also a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8)
bulletNow that we are in Christ, we are a new creation (2 Cor 5:17) created with a purpose (Ephesians 2:10 & 3:12)

An example of the power of prayer in supporting this outreach is the Day 10 devotion in John F. DeVries book  Why Pray that you recently received.

 

2.   There are many worthy mission and mercy programs that are brought to our attention at Prince of Peace.  How do I make the choice to give to one of them or to Ablaze?

            Where your heart is, that is where your treasure should be.  If the worldwide LCMS mission for Christ touches your heart, then Ablaze is for you.  If there is another work of the Lord that has touched your heart, then that is where your support should go.  Pray, asking God to make this clear to you.

 

3.   Should I mail my pledge card and my checks directly to LCMS or put them in the offering plate at Prince of Peace.

            Either way is fine.  Please annotate the Ablaze checks in the memo section.

4.   What is the Prince of Peace Ablaze funds raising campaign?

            There are two phases.  The Phase 1 pledges and contributions are being sought now for a pledge period of one year (April 2007 to March 2008).  They are for support of the worldwide LCMS Ablaze effort.  Phase 2 will be for a follow-on three year pledge period to support Kingdom building projects selected by the people of Prince of Peace.  These Phase 2 Ablaze projects will be selected in congregation meetings over the next six months.

 Information from progress toward reaching the 100 million critical events can be found at  Ablaze 

Weekly newsletters about ABLAZE activities in the Southeastern District of LCMS